Suresh Raina provides India the perfect 'ton'ic

Suresh Raina hits a shot during his knock of 100 against England at Cardiff in the second ODI. (Getty Images)

Bereft of an inspiring performance since Ishant Sharma's seven-wicket burst at Lord's, Team India received the perfect tonic on Wednesday - provided by its limited-overs specialist Suresh Raina.

Off-field disagreements had taken precedence and Raina's century in a winning cause in the Cardiff ODI played the right notes to lift the gloom of Test series defeat. In fact, it could prove a shot in the arm for India and usher them to hammer England in ODIs.

As many as 12 fours and three sixes came off Raina's bat in a knock of 100 in 75 balls, including a partnership of 144 with Dhoni in just 16.5 overs. The left-hander's belligerence against English bowlers saw him score his last 50 runs in just 25 balls.

Raina's hundred also broke the drought of three-figure scores for him in ODIs as his last century came four years back in 2010 against Sri Lanka in Dhaka. But more than that it brought the cheer back in the Indian camp that was in a state of depression after two consecutive Test defeats by an innings.

Hope is that this performance rubs onto others in the Indian dressing room and is not left to be remembered as a flash in the pan - just like the Test win at Lord's.